The Browns are scheduled to begin their minicamp June 14. Deshaun Watson is on track to participate with his new team, but the Browns ensured Wednesday their previous starting quarterback will not.
Baker Mayfield will be excused from Cleveland’s minicamp, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot tweets, describing this as a mutual decision. The parties decided this will be the best course of action, one that will prevent Mayfield from being fined for his absence and stop further distractions — amid a slew of quarterback-related turmoil for the Browns — from taking place.
[RELATED: Which Team Will Acquire Mayfield?]
This comes shortly after the 49ers excused Jimmy Garoppolo from their minicamp. Garoppolo still has a chance to return to the 49ers, despite the team preferring to trade its four-plus-year starter. Mayfield, who requested a trade in March, is almost certainly done with the Browns. Wednesday’s decision offers further evidence its four-year starter will move on, regardless of Watson’s status.
Mayfield has been away from the Browns for an extended stretch, having made his trade request just before the team’s trade for Watson and shocking financial commitment. The Browns have engaged in trade talks with the Panthers, and the former No. 1 overall pick has been linked to the Seahawks. Neither NFC team has blinked, even with both having questionable-at-best quarterback situations. At least, that is where the Panthers and Seahawks stand presently. Things could change if those teams determine Mayfield is a necessary upgrade, but the holding pattern has persisted for several weeks. The Browns will need to pick up almost all of Mayfield’s $18.9MM fifth-year option salary; they are willing to pay a sizable chunk of it.
Cleveland cutting Mayfield would save little, since he could sign with Carolina or Seattle for the league minimum (due to offset language) and stick the Browns with $17MM-plus in dead money. The Browns have Jacoby Brissett positioned as Watson insurance. With lawsuits continuing to pile up against the Pro Bowl passer, a lengthy Brissett stretch seems certain for the 2022 Browns. Mayfield should be expected to be with another team by the time a (presumably) Brissett-quarterbacked Cleveland squad debuts.
For now, the disgruntled QB will finish his shoulder rehab away from the Browns. Mayfield is expected to be ready for full participation in training camp.
Seems fine, I am sure Le Browns have more unsavory business practices up their sleeves for us all to marvel at.
No mention of the status of Mayfield’s recovery from off-season surgery? Couldn’t this have something to do with excusing him?
No. His injury has absolutely nothing to do with it. The article says he’ll be ready to participate fully in training camp per his shoulder surgery
This article is about the upcoming mini-camp, not training camp.
Right but you said it doesn’t mention the status of his recovery when it says he’ll be a full participant by training camp. He’ll be excused from that too if he’s not traded by then. There’s a rule that allows teams to excuse players on their first contract without subject to fines
Kind of torn. I get why there excusing him. Distractions and all. But wouldn’t they want to have him as a back up to cover Watsons upcoming possible suspension? And it would also give them a bit more upper hand on any trade talks ?
They signed Brissett the day after trading for Watson. I don’t think anything is going to give them more hand in trade talks unless another team loses their starter, and even then, that team could play Cleveland and SF off each other.
That why they sign brissett right away. They have a back up and why would baker go from their future to now a back up. When he has the talent to start.
Mayfield doesn’t fit the new passing offense the Browns are gonna use. Plus, you don’t go on the planned honeymoon with the girl you left at the alter
Lol….after the way the browns treated him?
How did the Browns treat him? I like Baker Mayfield but they upgraded the quarterback position. Lots of teams upgrade positions. They had a decision to make. The Rams did the same thing with Goff. Tampa did the same thing with Winston.
But the Rams and Bucs were smart enough to get rid of the old QB.
And the Browns will too. They can’t help nobody wants him
pretty insane to think watson should be anywhere near this team, franchise or organization. kinda makes the whole kneeling thing and the gruden thing and the dan snyder thing paint the league and players as a bunch of hypocrites.
It’s like watching a slow motion car crash. You know this whole QB thing is going to blow up in the Browns’ faces.
So I’m not the only one hoping Mayfield goes somewhere and balls out while Watson has to sit for having his balls out?
It looks like Mayfield will be a backup somewhere this year unless there’s an injury. I think any team that wanted him as their starter would have already done a deal so he could be at their OTA. I don’t think the Panthers or Seahawks would let 3-4 million get in the way of acquiring a starting quarterback if they really wanted him.
I don’t think the Seahawks or Panthers would willingly give up 3-4 million they dont need to when it’s blatantly obvious to the whole league that the Browns are gonna cut bait at some point.
He’ll be traded. If the Browns cut him, then he’ll be a waiver claim and there’s no guarantee either team will get him. Detroit may get him. Same thing happened with Amari Cooper. Everyone knew he’d be released but the Browns knew they wouldn’t get him off waivers so they traded for him
Browns are slightly less incompetent than the 49ers on excess high $$ QB’s. Browns still have cap flexibility even with Mayfield sticking around. 49ers won’t be able to extend Deebo or Bosa until they can shed Garappolo’s salary. The problem for both teams is the uncertainty surrounding their QB1’s.
They really need to have a team repeat the Vikings loss of Bridgewater in preseason in order to get more than they should for either of these two.
Lots of reasons why neither team will get much. Both are coming off injuries. Both are due a decent amount of money. Both can walk after this year meaning you’ll only have them for a year. Mayfield is coming off a terrible year even though I think injuries played a huge part. The teams mentioned are not an average quarterback away from winning. It takes a very good quarterback to upgrade a team to championship level. Brady and Stafford did it with their respective teams but Wentz couldn’t do it with a good Indianapolis team.
We know now that the Houston Texans have been in a conspiracy with Watson to pimp message theraptist to meet Watson’s dysfunctions
How the Cleveland Brown ownership will spin this train wreck will be very interesting indeed
Watson is a sex addict. If he had half a brain, which appears he doesn’t, he should plead mercy about his addiction
The chances of 24, yes two dozen, women coming to the exact same conclusion is astronomical, heck if only 3 accused him I’d say he’s in trouble
So Houston, we have a problem
Why the NDA’s? This has damage control written all over it.
NFL: in addition to the reprobate Watson, you will now have to see why the Houston administration team, had chose to furnish these message theraptists with Non Dis closure agreement
Hmmmmm
Isn’t this what high ranking officials give out to cover their ass? Yes it is
Guilty as sin
Houston had traded its problem to Cleveland
Stupidity is contagious
Massage not message
The Browns plan to punish Mayfield further by not inviting him to the Super Bowl party they expect to host sometime around 2077.
The 50 year anniversary?
5 years before the Browns do anything. Ouch.
I’d take that. Everyone can’t be the Patriots
Im hypothetically putting the over/under at 6 starts for Josh Dobbs this season. I’d take the over personally.
As a Browns fan I’m very unhappy with the way the team treated Baker Mayfield. I’m beyond sick over this ridiculous trade for Watson with all the alligations against him.what should have been another exciting season with Baker leading our team is becoming a huge reason to NOT watch the Browns for many years to come….this won’t blow over anytime soon
Watson will have the Browns in the playoffs by next year